Coin-controlled mechanism for vending-machines.



G. W. GONIBER.

colN CONTHOLLED. MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9,19l7.

1,293,084. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEEYI ATTORNEY WITNESSES W. GOMBER.

com CONTROLLED MEcHANlsM For: vENDlNG MACHINES.

m Peteneed Feb. 4,1919.

3 SHEETSASHEET 2 1,293,084. APPLCMON FILED -0v 9 WITN ESSES ATTORNEY G. W. GOIVIBER.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FORA VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV..9.191.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR,

(Zofzer,

George 77T ATTORNEY @En STATES raras-rr onirica.

GEORG-E W. GOMBER, 0F 'CONYNGH AM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD AUTOMATIC MACHINE COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION 0F IJELAWARE.

coIN-coN'r-noannn'. MEcHANIsM, Fon. vENDING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4:', 1919.

Application tiled November 9, 1917.. Serial No. 201,128.I

To all wh-om t may. concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GoMBnR,

la citizen of the United States, residing at higher denomination, the arrangement beingA such that the actuating mechanism maytin most part, be the same for dellvering a smgle article or a multiple thereof.

The invention is designed primarilyv for 'use 1n connection with clgar vendlng machines where it is customary to sell six 5 cent cigars for twenty-five cents or three 10 cent cigars for twenty-fivel cents or some other .such arrangement.

The vending machine embodying the invention is provided with a slide structure having an accessible end by which it may be'manipulated. The slide structure is ar ranged for connection to the vending or delivery side of thevmachine which may be of appropriate structure but. which does not enter into the present invention. A vending or delivery mechanism well adapted for use in connection with the coin-controlled mechanism of the presentinvention is shown mined-- number of reciprocations of the push bar to ultimately release the latch mechanism-to its first osition.

By the provision of two machines, one of which is set for single strokel operation and the other of which-is set for multiple stroke operation, it is possible to vend a single cigar for ve cents or six cigars for twentyfive cents, as the case may be, or any other chosen relation of vending.

The in-ventlon will be best understood from aconsideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that, while the drawings showa practical form. of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified ,so long as such changes and modifications come within the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawlngs:

Figure l is a side elevation of a coin-controlled mechanism embodyin the invention and showing the twentyve cent side j thereof; v

Fig. 2 is aplan view of thestructure of Fig. 1, with some parts in cross section;

.Fig 3 is a view similar t'o Fig. 1, but viewing the other face thereof and showing the five cent side;

Fig. 4' is a longitudinal' upright section i taken back of the face plate shown in Fig. 1, and also omitting some of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a section on the ine 5.-5 of Fig. it; Fig. 6 is a view similarto. Fig. 1, but

with the push bar at the other extremity of its stroke and showing the arts in position for vending numerous artic es for one coin;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a main por# tion of the push bar;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a portion of the latch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, there is shownv a casing 1' in which the 'coin-controlled' mechanism is'housed and which maybe of suitable configuration.

any`

he coin-controlled mechanism includes anintermediate plate'2 and ilankin plates 3 and 4 respectively secured to the ate 2 in any suitable manner and spaced t erefrom vby spacing strips 5 or by any other'means gated strip havinga recess 9 in one ed e,v

which is the upper 'edge in the instal ed position, such recess being of an. eX-tent .lengthwise of the bar aboutequal to or a the recess 9. The recesses 9 and 11 may beA of the same size, or the recess 11 may more nearly correspond in extent to the diameter of a five-cent piece. The bottom edge of each notch or recess is beveled as indicated at 12, with the bevel directed' outwardly..

ln each plate 3 and 4 there are openings 13 and 14 respectively, into coincidence with either of which the recess or opening 9 or 11 may be brought. The bottom edgesbf the openings 13 and 1.4 are beveled as 1ndicated at 15.

Leading from the exterior of the casing 1 to a position to discharge over the openin s 13 is a double coin chute 16,v that is, it 1s provided with two channels 17 and 18 respectively, these channels being accessible from the exterior of the casing and may have mouth portions Vor cover plates of customary character, of such size as to admit a designated coin but no others. For instance, the coin chute channel 17 discharging opposite the opening 13 of the plate 3 may be -arranged to transmit quarterdollars, while the other channel of the coin chute may be arranged to transmit livecent pieces or nickels.

The arrangement shown in the drawings with respect to the coin chutes is of the simplest kind, but it will be understood that if so desired, various devices for preventing the use of anyl but proper coins may be employed.

When a coin is lodged at the opening 13, it is in positionto drop into the recess 9 when the push bar is suitably locked with respect thereto, and when the coin is in the recess 9, it is drawn by the push bar toward the opening 14, which latter is large enough to permit the coin to escape, such escape being facilitated by the beveled edges 12 and 15. If the coin be too small, it will escape through the opening. 13, being facilitated in such escape by the beveled edges 12 and 1 5 of the recess 9 and the opening 13. In this manner, a coin such as a ten-cent piece or a cent will fail to operate the machine, because it will not remain in the recess 9 ofthe bar 6 while the latter is being manipulated to operate the vending side of the machine.

The bar 6 along one edge is provided with a series of teeth 16*1 and also with a notch 17. The teeth 16a are engaged by a double tooth rock pawl 18a pivotally mounted by a screw 19 or yotherwise on the plate 2 and 'controlled by a spring 20'so as to yield to the passage of the teeth 16 but be held in engagement with` some one of them. finger 21 is carried by the bar 6 so as to engage one or the other ofthe teeth of the pawl 18EL and cause it to rock.

The teeth 16El and pawl 18*t constitute a full stroke device necesstatin the movement of the push bar 6 toits fu l extent and preventing partial movement thereof. vThis feature, however, does not enter particularly into the present invention, and is furthermore of known construction, wherefore further description is deemed unnecessary.

Also mounted on the push bar 6 so as to move therewith is a pawl 22 with a nose end 23 and a weighted end 24, the latter being heavy enough to overbalance the nose end and normally rest upon a stop bracket 25 carried by the ush bar. In the path of the nose end 23 o the pawl 22 is a circular series of pins 26 mounted on a disk 27 between the plate 3'V and a bracket 28, the disk being rotatable about its axis with the bracket 28 bearin with some frictional pressure upon the dis which latter is provided with a pintle 29 to support it. The pins 26 are all of the same length except one pin 26a, which is longer than the other pins,

but all the pins are so disposed withrela-' tion to the pawl 22 as to be engaged thereby for turning the disk ste reciprocatory movement ofp the bar 6 participated in by the pawl 22 carried by the vMounted on the plate 3 is a rock member 29 having three arms 30, 31 and 32 respectively. One arm 30 has a normal position nearly upright, and is formed on one side with a shoulder 33 for a purpose to be described. The arm 32 is counterweighted to overbalance the rest of the device 29, and the arm 31 is bent to one side to be out of the path of the pins' 26 but in the path of the pin 26B.,

Mounted between the plates 2, 3and 4 is a cam block 34 having cam members 35, 36v extending into the spaces between the plates 2, 3 and 4 so as to be in the path of coins inserted in the machine. The cam block 34 carries one end of an arm 37 projecting toward that end of the push bar 6 containing the notch 17a, and at such point the arm 37 carries a tooth 38 in position to enter the notch 17a. The arm 37 is also provided with spaced pins39 and 40,- the pin 39 acting-as a stop pin for the arm 30, and the in 40 being positioned toenga e the shou der 33 under circumstances to 5e described. A normal tendency to move in one direction is imparted to the push bar l(S by a spring 41.

When the machine is installed, the mouth of one or the other of the coin chutes 17 and 18 is closed, so that only one of the coin chutes is exposed, and this is the one leading to the part of the apparatus which will by step by the -of cigars for one coin.

- that the machine is set to vend a single cigar for a single coin, such as a ve-cent piece. Under these circumstances, the coin chute 17 is closed and the coin chute 18 is left open, the latter leading to the part of the machine responsive to a five-cent piece. On

the insertion of such coin, it drops to the bar 6, which latter is in the retracted position on account of the normal action of the spring 41. The recess l1 of the supplementary bar l()v belonging tothe bar 6 is at the time beneath the coin chute, wherefore the deposited coin drops into th'e recess 11 and there lodges. Now, on pulling out the bar 6, which has a limited lost motlo'n, the deposited coin engages the proper side of the cam block 34, causing the cam block with its-arm 37 to rise a short distance. This distance is sufficient to carry the tooth 38 out of the Anotch 17x71 and thereby permit the full stroke of the bar 6, which -full stroke would other- Wise be prevented by the engagement of the tooth 38 in the notch 17 a. rlhe desired forward stroke of the bar 6 may then be accomplished and the cigar or other article be v vended.

If it be that the machine is set for vending several articles ,in .succession for a single coin, then the device is initially set to permit the insertion of a coin such as a quarter in the coin chute 17. Under these circum-A stances, the larger coin, on engaging the proper portion'o thecam block 34, say, the cam portion 35, raises the cam block to a greater extent, thus lifting the arm 37 until it is higher than the shoulder 33, whereupon Athe counterweight-32' causes the arm 30 to move so that. the pin 40 will rest upon the shoulder 33, thus holding the arm 37 and cam block 34 in the elevated position. There is now no impediment to the repeated reciproca-tion of the bar 6 which may be continued until ultimately the elongated pin 26SL is brought into engagementl with the arm 31, causing a rocking of the arm30 to Acarry the shoulder 33 out of the path of the for ten cents and three cigars for twentyfive cents, or six cigars for fifty cents, or any other amount desirable.

To surely discharge the inserted coins after causing the release of the coin lock, the

plate l2 opposite the openings 13 and 14 has cam lugs 42 with one of which lugs an inserted coin engages and is positively eJected r'may be.

through the opening 13 or 14 as the case What is claimed is:

1. In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, an elongated reciprocatory push bar having a coin receptacle formed therein, a latch member pivoted to a fixed part of the machine and provided at one end with means for engaging the' push bar and atthe other end with means in the path of a coin lodged in the coin receptacle of the push bar to, rock the latch` member out of engagement with the push bar, means for temporarily holding the push bar engaging end of the latch member in the inactive position, and step by step means under thecontrol of the push 'bar and co actively yrelated to ,the holding means of the latch member to release' the latter after a predetermined number of reciprocations of the push bar.

2. In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines., an elongated reciprocatory ush Ibar having -a coin receptacle forme therein, an elongated latch member overriding the push bar'and pivotall'yl mounted on t e fixed part of the'machine, said latch member having engaging means for the push bar at one endand cam means' at the other end in position to be engaged by a coin deposited in the coin receptacle of the push bar, means for temporarily holding the latch member in the inactive position, and step by ste means responsive to reciprocatlons of t e push bar and movable to engage the holding meansv for the latch member to release the latter after a predetermined number of reciprocations of thev push bar.

l3. In la coin controlled mechanism yfor 105 vending machines, an elongated push bar having a coin receptacle formed therein and also provided with a notch, a latch lever pivoted to a fixed art of the machine and extending in the direction of reciprocation of the push bar along the latter, said lever being provided at one end with a tooth for engaging the notch in the push bar and at the other end .With a cam block in overriding relation to thepcoin receptacle in the 115 push bar for engagement with the cam of Ia coin deposited in the coin receptacle, a rotatable series of pins with'one pin longer than the others, a pawl carried by the push bar and movable into engagement with the pins 120 one at a time on the reciprocation of the push bar, and a rock lever mounted on a.

fixed portion of the machine with one arm in position Vto be engaged by "the elongated pm and the other arm in position to engage and 12` hold the latch lever in position to release the push bar for reciprocation.

4. In (a (goin controlled mechanism for vending machines, a reciprocatory ush bar having a receptacle for an insert coin, a 130 latch member mounted on a fixed part of the machine, said latch member having a portion to directly engage and hold the push bar from reciprocation and another portion in the path of a coin lodged in the vending machines, a reciprocatory push bar formed With a coin receptacle and With a notch, a latch lever mounted to rock on a fixed axis in operative relation to the push bar, said lever having a tooth for engaging the notch in the push bar to hold the latter against reciprocation, and a cam in position t'o be engaged b a coin deposited in the coin receptacle of t e push bar, a rotatable se ries of pins 0n the machine With one pin longerv than the others, means on the push bar for .engaging the pins in succession to rotate the ser-ies of pins, and a rock lever mounted on a fixed portion of the machine, said lever having an arm in the path of the longer pin and another arm in position to hold -the latch end of the'latch lever in the inactive position.

6. In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, a reciprocatory push bar formed .With a coin receptacle and with a notch, a latch lever mounted to rock on afiXed axis in operative relation to the push bar, said lever having a tooth for engaging the notch in the push bar to hold the latter against reciprocation, and a cam in position to be engaged by a coin deposited in the coin receptacle of the push bar, a rotatable series of pins on the machine with one pin longer than the others, means on the push bar for engaging the pins in succession to Arotate the series of pins, and a rock lever mounted A on a fixed portion of the machine, said lever latch bar associated with the push bar, said latch bar having a cam at one end and a tooth -at the other end for engaging and locking the push bar against movement 1n one direction, With the cam in position to be engaged by a coin lodged in the coin receptacle of the push bar, a rock lever having a shouldered portion 1n position to engage and hold the latch bar out of operative relation to the push bar, a p'awl `on the push bar, and a freely rotatable member, With a circular series of parts in the path of the pavvl and With one of said parts in position to engage the rock lever, whereby a predetermined number of reciprocations of the push bar Will cause the release of the latch bar for engaging and stopping the push bar.

8. In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, a push bar having a plurality of receptacles for coins of different sizes, a latch bar for the push bar provided l With cam portions in the paths of coins lodged in the coin receptacles for causing the release of the push bar by a coin, means for temporarily holding the v latch bar out of engagement with the push bar, and means underithe control of the push bar for causing the actuation of the holding means for the latch bar to release the latter after a predetermined number of reciprocations of the push bar.

9. In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, a reciprocatorypush bar having a plurality of adjacent coin receptacles, a single latch bar `for the push bar pivoted to a xed p'art of the machine and provided with means in the paths'of inserted coins to be moved out of latching engagement with -the push bar by one or the other of the coins, holding means for the latch bar for engaging it when moved to released p0- sition by one of the coins, and a freely rotatable member under the control of the push bar and provided with means for enga l11g the holding means for the latch bar an releasing the latter fromv said holding means after a predetermined number of reciprocations of the push bar.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two .Witnesses Y GEORGE W. GOMBER. `Witnesses: y

Meent C. HAUSER, v- C. W. MUJER. 

